Is it better to tolerate homophobia, or to fight it?
I used to say 'fight it'; I don't take abuse from anyone, even though this just lead to bitter arguments in which neither side was ever going to back down.
Then last summer I went to a gay pride parade. The streets were liend with GLBT people and their supporters. The parade was FAB-U-LOUS. Walking behind the last carnival float were three fundamentalist Christians with placards of condemnation. Not a single person in the crowd reacted; nobody challenged their right to hold their opinion - we all knew how it felt to be a minority, and we showed them the same respect that we wanted for ourselves. It was the proudest moment of my life.
2006-06-19 22:51:02 · 25 answers · asked by Alex should be working 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
My best friend is gay, and he gets tourmented and bullied, and people who don't even know him shout things at him in the street. He is the most charming, lovely guy I know, and he has been in a committed relationship with his boyfriend for the last ten years!
If I am with him, and people challenge him, I get so angry. Why should he be denied the right to live his life the way he wants? He's not doing anyone any harm. I always, always stand up to homophobic people. I got beaten up once because I was defending a '******'.
People are ignorant and stupid and it makes my blood boil. I will fight homophobia, and anyone be damned who dares challenge me on it!
2006-06-20 12:36:22 · answer #1 · answered by Five- Farthings 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think people are getting more tolerant and aware as generations go by. Its great how places can actually have parades now without too much upset. But people still have a right to their own opinions, I guess all need to respect that. Some people will never see eye to eye, and that's just how life is!
If peoples opinions are expressed fairly, then fair enough - that's their opinion. It's the violence and verbal abuse that is unacceptable. Whether it's racist, sexist, homophobic or whatever. No one should have to put up with this sort of crap. I have some gay friends and if anyone aggressively started on them I'd defend them.
2006-06-19 23:26:30 · answer #2 · answered by badgerbadger 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't use the word tolerate, however I also wouldn't try to fight it. These people who are against us are angry and they already have their opinions formed about us. They're gonna believe what they want to believe and that's just that. There's no changing their minds and fighting against them only adds flames to the fire...The best thing to do is to continue to be ourselves and not let them see that they're getting to us... They don't pay our bills, put food on our tables or clothes on our backs so who cares what they things. All of this may be easy for me to say because I've NEVER had to deal with any negative reactions to my homosexuality (knocking on wood) It's been a pretty easy ride for me...I'm an "out" african american, full blown feminine lesbian and it seems that the ones who know about me tend to love me more...I guess I can call that lucky...I'm still young (24) and have a lot of living to do, and who knows what the future holds. But right now, at this moment, I just say don't fight it. We must continue to hold our head up and be proud of who we are...
2006-06-20 02:40:39 · answer #3 · answered by mesofemme 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Live and let live... Apart from the truly homophobic idiots!!!
As long as it is not flaunted in front of my face, then I really don't care... But then, I don't like straight couples sucking face in front of me either... Its a personal and private thing and should be done away from others!!! Its not the most pleasant thing to watch whilst having a meal out or whatnot!!!
I respect other people when out and about with my hubby, so am not overly happy when other people, gay or straight, don't!!!
You should be proud... You showed yourself to be a bigger and more tolerant person by simply ignoring them and, let's face it, whats 3 people in the crowd of hundreds???!!
2006-06-19 22:59:40 · answer #4 · answered by The Marvellous Mad Madam Mim 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Homophobia is just ignorance. People who have those views are to be pitied. I was brought up not to be rude and make a remark if someone used an incorrect word or made an error and I treat homophobic people the same way. They must be quite sad in themselves to be so filled with hate.
They are irrelevant to me.
2006-06-22 06:09:58 · answer #5 · answered by Trish D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm straight so obviously don't get homophobic abuse but my mate is gay and he does so I almost know what i'm on about. He just ignores it and I use to say why'd you take that s***. But he explained to me if people want to have closeminded opinions let them, just ignore them, ovbviously they are so insecure with their life they have to harrass others. So I'd say ignore it although personally I dislike homophbic/racist/mysogynistic (sp) people but in the end its their problem. What I do get angry about it is physical homophobic attacks, if they don't like it why not just stay out of gay ppls way, don't make trouble. I find calling someone homophobic the true insult and it annoys me how people flaunt their homophobia. xx
2006-06-21 07:07:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It just really depends on the person that is homophobic. If they just state their case or are trying to have an intelligent discussion about it then i dont have a problem. I am tolerant and willing to discuss my feelings. In this case it is often possible to change that persons mind. Now, if the homophobic person is attacking me and belittleing me, then that is a whole different story, and i will not put up with it!
2006-06-20 04:51:53 · answer #7 · answered by texstatetechie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I FEEL angry when people make homophobic remarks, but i'm not going to react that way because everyone does have a right to their own opinion. But I feel angry when people make racist or any narrow-minded remarks. I am at a place in my life where I do not need other people to condone what I know is right, but when you insult an entire group of people out of ignorance it just bothers me. I would never react violently, unless violently provoked of course because I don;t believe in that.
My best defense when conservative christians preach their holiness and my sin usually works very well, it really irks them. I just say "May God bless you and forgive you for lack of understanding and love to your fellow man. I pray you can repent in time." That generally makes their blood boil and I am satisfied because they finally have a tiny inclination of how we feel.
2006-06-20 04:36:36 · answer #8 · answered by scorp 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, i do not tollerate a lack of repect coming from people who do not know me and have no foundation for their slander,no. If someone wants to argue with me because i've been a bad person then by all means, fire at will. I am gay and i have encountered people who have been homophobic. The way i think about about it is, if i react angrily, i'm letting myself down and im giving this person another reason to feel badly about people who are gay, second to that i become no better than those who have critised me.
I have always and will always approach the subject with a certain amount of tact, not just to retain my own dignity but so people are less quick to judge other people who are in the same situation as myself. and also, it is not my porogative to offend others.
I like giving people something to think about. At the end of the day the main difference between heterosexuals and homosexuals is the way who we have sex with and the way in which we carry that out. As far as i am concerned the only person who's business it is to know whats happening in that department, is my partners and my own. It is no one elses business. No one is ever going to see what goes on inside my bedroom,so why judge me on that merit? I don't flaunt my sexuality because i don't need to, i know what i am and i'm comfortable with that fact. I don't need to enforce it on anyone or flaunt it in their face. If i was to, undoubtedly i would offend some people which is simply not the person i want to become.
When i have delt with people who have had a problem with it, i deal with the matter in a calm and rational manner and very quickly the people concered have calmed down enought to listen to what i have to say to them. I respect the fact that everyone is entitled to an opinion and with that opinion comes accountability. If someone is uneduacted on the matter, then educate them from your point of view without jamming it down their throat.
It pisses me off that there are some of my gay counterparts that go on and on about predjidice and inequality while they flaunt there ar*ses in front of people and expect them to be alright with that fact. Quite simply it doesn't matter whether your gay, straight or f*ucking a donkey, keep it to yourself, i, nor anybody else needs to see it. It's inapproriate and just bad manners!
The fact is my sexuality is a mere fraction of the person i am. I would rather be judged on my intelligence and character than by how i have sex.
Homophobic people are people who are judging others on a silly merit. I can understand for some people it's completely alien, but then i'm not asking them to be gay, am i? I'm not asking them to deny who they are.. All anyone can hope for is a judgement based on what kind of a person you are. If your an ar*sehole, your an ar*sehole, your sexuality has nothing to do with it!
If we can treat each other with respect and embrace our differences without harbouring hatred than the world would be a much better place for all of us. We're wasting our time fighting over stupid issues when there are truly far bigger issues to be concerned about.
Gay, straight, whatever you assign yourself to, be true to your self first, you are a person the same as any before you are anything else.. We have more in common than we have in differences why not let us focus on that.
Positives People!!
Peace x
2006-06-19 23:30:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no longer all Christians are an identical. There are they suitable wing style like George Bush/ Sarah Palin who think of they are greater useful than all and sundry else. There are others that are the full opposite. i would not get myself upset if somebody tried to transform my toddler. My m-i-l is a Jehovah's witness so perhaps i'm used to human beings have extensive egos approximately some thing it particularly is meant to be non secular. human beings have be attentive to their young ones have an inner preparation device & teach them to music in to it. If the youngster tunes it they are going to be waiting to be attentive to whilst some one is doing somthing our of bounds. each guy or woman has their very own direction in existence so if somebody is converted it is not interior our administration besides. We do our proper.
2016-12-08 23:03:55 · answer #10 · answered by miracle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋